The forum was used by cybercriminals to buy and sell malicious software, stolen data and more. It was, says an official, the "most sophisticated English-speaking forum for criminal computer hackers in the world."

Pao, a polarizing figure in Silicon Valley after a high-profile gender discrimination suit, stepped down as the leader of the popular social-networking and news site after hundreds of thousands called for her to resign.

Key sections of online community Reddit, including one of the site's most popular drawcards, "Ask Me Anything", are being pulled from public view in protest of the alleged firing of one its key administrators.